Rotorua's Davey Boles wins Legend of the Lake again

The 18-year-old, who spends almost as much time standing on podiums as he does in the water, added another couple of Generation Homes Legend of the Lake wins to his collection yesterday.

On Saturday, at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Boles won the 2.5km swim before backing up on Sunday to win the 5km race, which was included in the event for the first time. This just over a month after winning the 2.6km swim title at Mount Maunganui's Generation Homes Sand to Surf.

He said the water was a little rougher than usual, due to the wind, but he was pleased with his performance.

"It's definitely about trying not to let your mind wander. You can just forget your in a race when your in your rhythm, so you have to try to stay focused but also keep that rhythm at the same time."

Last year the Swim Rotorua open-water specialist reached his sporting highlight to date - representing New Zealand at the Oceania Swimming Championships in Papua New Guinea. There, he secured New Zealand's first medal at the champs in his international debut, securing a bronze medal in the 5km race around Port Moresby harbour, before securing a second bronze at the same competition in the 10km open water race.

In January he won two silver medals, in the 10km and 5km races, at the Swimming New Zealand Open Water Championships at Lake Taupō.

Boles said this year he felt stronger than he had at previous Legend of the Lake events and he enjoyed being able to race in his home town.

"It's definitely cool being able to swim here and being able to do well here - being in your own backyard and having everyone come down to support is pretty cool."

Christchurch's Sammi Harnett, 25, was the first woman across the line in the 5km race yesterday and it was clear how much it meant as she grinned from ear to ear as she ran out of the water.

"It felt really good. The swim was actually a lot rougher than I thought it was going to be, but it was a good rough, I like it more challenging. It's more about long and strong and powering through it."

The event is part of the Banana Boat New Zealand Ocean Swim Series, which Harnett has been travelling around the country to compete in.

"So far I've done Nelson, Paihia, Wellington and here, then I'm going up to Auckland for the final one. I've gone all right, I won Wellington and Paihia, then I was fourth in Nelson. I want to do well in the last one."

It was her first time racing in Rotorua and she was suitably impressed.

"Last time I was in Rotorua I was just passing through, so it's actually really nice to see how beautiful it is. I didn't even know this existed and it's so gorgeous, it's amazing."